Demand for meat, poultry and seafood packaging is expected to increase 3.5% annually to $9.2 billion in 2013, according to a new study byThe Freedonia Group.
Gains in overall production and an increasing shift to case-ready packaging are two major driving factors. Packaging demand will also be supported by changes in packaging practices, such as the increasing prevalence of meat and poultry items in smaller, more convenient sizes and the expanding range of products. The ready-to-eat market, while the smallest segment, is poised to grow the fastest. In the processed market, demand will be aided by ongoing new product introductions of convenience-oriented items, such as sliced lunch meats in resealable plastic tubs.
